Overview
Job Summary
Are you a registered mental health or learning disability nurse? Have you thought about working within prison mental health services?
We have an exciting opportunity for Mental Health / LD Nurses to join our mental health team at HMP Deerbolt Category C men's prison, located near Barnard Castle. Prison environments are one of the most challenging, yet rewarding places for healthcare professionals to work. If you're looking for a role where you can develop your existing clinical skills and learn something new every day in an environment that never stands still, then this could be the opportunity for you.
This is an excellent opportunity for registered mental health / LD nurses who have experience working within mental health services to join a team where you will get to develop a full range of psychiatric skills and interventions whilst delivering community-based urgent and planned care/intervention to the prison population.
Main duties
You will be a Registered Mental Health / LD Nurse. The team will be multi-disciplinary and the successful candidate will work collectively with senior clinical staff to provide a comprehensive mental health service, navigating the challenges of a prison environment.
To deliver clinical assessment and intervention as dedicated provision for complex patients whilst supporting a whole prison approach. You will carry out comprehensive assessments, confidently communicating treatment options and initiating supportive care plans, and providing evidence-based interventions alongside the wider multi-disciplinary team.
You will be committed to a person-centred approach to your work and will have an ability to prioritise and work flexibly. We are looking for skilled professionals who will thrive working in a busy environment in a well-resourced team of multidisciplinary professionals, as well as alongside partner providers from a variety of internal and external services.
This includes an opportunity to deliver training in conjunction with nurse consultant.
Additionally, to the competency framework, we offer a comprehensive induction and workforce development plan with a vast array of personal, professional and academic training opportunities enabling you to expand your skill set and evidence-based practice.
About Us
Our Journey to Change sets out why we do what we do, the kind of organisation we want to be and the three big goals we’re committing to.
Our values
We Are Committed To Three Big Goals:
* To co-create a great experience for our patients, carers and families.
* To co-create a great experience for our colleagues
* To be a great partner
Career development
Interested in clinical development? We offer opportunities to develop into a specialist role of your interest which in turn benefits the service. Examples include psychological therapies such as EMDR and DBT, none medical prescribing, leadership opportunities and Professional Nursing Advocacy.
How we will support you
* Bespoke induction
* Competency framework
* Regional career development opportunities
* Support from the wider team
Details
Date posted: 28 August 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year (pro rata), per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Compressed hours
Reference number: 346-FMH-096-25-A
Job locations: HMP Deerbolt, Bowes Rd, Barnard Castle, DL12 9BG
Job Description and Requirements
Job responsibilities: Candidates must have 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework. We require the post holders to be committed to equal opportunities and non-discriminatory practices and reflect the trust values. We would welcome candidates to contact us to arrange a visit to the prison or an informal discussion. Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.
Benefits
* A £3,000 Trust welcome bonus will be applied to this post and is paid as follows:
o £1,500 upon joining the Trust
o £750 after year 1
o £750 after year 2
* Induction, development and opportunities for professional growth
Person Specification
Qualification
* Essential: RNMH/RNLD or registered practitioner, current professional registration with NMC or relevant professional body
* Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
* Clinical Supervisor (within agreed timescales)
* Recognised sign-off mentor or must be achieved within agreed timescale
* Qualified practitioner in areas such as CBT, DBT, PSI, dual diagnosis, etc. (within agreed timescale)
* Key skills in literacy, numeracy and ITQ level 2 (or equivalent)
* MIP, FLIP, ENB 998 Teaching & Assessing in Clinical Practice or City & Guilds 730 Teaching in Adult Education (within agreed timescales)
* Non-medical Prescriber (within agreed timescale)
* 18 months post qualifying experience including sign off of appropriate preceptorship or competency framework
Desirable:
* Leadership or management qualification
* Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area
Experience
* Essential: Significant experience working with people with mental ill health in a community setting; understanding the Offender Health pathway; working collaboratively with service users and families; working in a multi-disciplinary team; quality improvement activities
* Desirable: Leadership or management experience; experience in a secure environment; experience of providing clinical supervision; mentoring students on practice placement
Skills
* Essential: Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively; provide leadership and coordinate team activities; work in a multidisciplinary team and undertake care co-ordinator responsibilities; provide clinical supervision, teaching and assessing; write reports; use multimedia materials for presentations; use approved breakaway techniques
* Desirable: Competency in venepuncture and ECGs
Disclosures
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. Certificate of Sponsorship and related UK immigration requirements apply as appropriate.
Employer details
Employer: Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Address: HMP Deerbolt, Bowes Rd, Barnard Castle, DL12 9BG
Employer website: https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/
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